Cars I Don't Often See

 

Lotus and Lamborghini
Jupiter, FL
April 26, 2025

It has been a great week for car spotting. 

Sure we have seen the usual plethora of Bentleys and Rolls. They are almost everywhere. But, over the past couple days I have been introduced to a few cars that just do not show up often.

Yesterday, for instance, Chris and I pulled into a small shopping area to find a Lotus and a Lamborghini parked next to each other. That was a first, but even more interesting was the color of the Lamborghini--purple. There they were, parked together alone in the lot. I took a moment to admire them and imagine the sound of their engines accelerating. 

1989 Jaguar XJS V-12 rouge Special Edition
Image from the Internet

Late last week, I was introduced to a very special Jaguar. It was a 1989 Jaguar XJS V12 Rouge Special Edition. And it was in our community. One of the residents had borrowed it from his father-in-law to take his daughter and friends to Prom. Wow--it was a beauty with only 28,000 miles on it. Now this Jaguar was not in the same class as the Lotus or the Lamborghini, but it was a really beautiful car. I failed to take an image of it sitting in his drive, but found a few on the internet so I could remember the awesomeness of this classic. He told me how much someone told him it was worth, but that was a bit of an exaggeration. Nonetheless, it was a heart stopping car. 

Later Chris and I got into our 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-e and headed out wishing we were in the Jag and remembering the ones we have owned. At least our Mach-e is red. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

A Night at the Theater

 

View from my Seat, Dreyfoos Hall, Kravis Center
West Palm Beach, FL
April 25, 2025

We went to see a Broadway Across America production of Les Misérables last evening at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. The production began promptly at 8 PM and was stunning.

But there is more to the story.

Our normal roughly 30 minute trip to West Palm Beach took almost and hour due to Friday-night rush hour traffic. The situation on I-95, my preferred route, was so bad that we saved almost 10 minutes by driving US-1, with all of its stoplights, into the city. We made our dinner reservation and enjoyed a relaxed dinner at True Food Kitchen which is a short walk from the Kravis. When I say short walk, I mean short, like less than 10 minutes at a leisurely walking pace. 

But what about the show? 

The show was great. We had less than optimal seats at the very back of the hall, but still had good view of the stage. The sound system was perfect. What bothered me is that the show is very dark--I knew that before hand, but from where sat it was a bit too dimly lit. We could not make out the faces of the actors and actresses. 

The Kravis, however, is a great place to watch live theater. The seats are comfortable and parking is free. I look forward to returning for another show soon. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Happy Hour Returns to the Beach

 

Happy Hour Crew on the Beach
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
April 24, 2025

It happened.

We finally returned to the beach to enjoy Happy Hour. It had been months, it seems, since we last enjoyed an evening on the beach. 

Between our traveling, the weather, and some sickness we have been away from the beach--but not so last evening. We returned. It was glorious. 

Pelicans on Patrol
Carlin Park Beach, Jupiter, FL
April 24, 2025

The highlight of the evening was the appearance of two spinner sharks, well it could have been one shark jumping twice. There is almost no way to capture spinner sharks on camera because before you realize it's happening it is over except for the splash.

We enjoyed a few hours of watching the waves crash on a nearly empty beach. Sadly, there were no surfers to entertain us--but we spent time catching up on recent travels. 

We had a great time and are looking forward to getting out tonight to attend a performance of Les Miserables at the local theater. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Fragrance of Gardenias

Gardenia in Bloom
Tequesta, FL
March 29, 2025

 The fragrance of gardenias was everywhere yesterday during my almost 18-mile ride. 

The gardenias have been in bloom for a couple of weeks now, but yesterday they seemed to be at their peak. The sweet fragrance was everywhere and it was very enjoyable. I enjoyed the sweetness around every curve. 

After my morning ride, Chris and I spent the day restocking the food supplies which we had drawn down during April due to our many travels. We expect to be home for most of May! Yay. 

Due to a dental appointment, I won't be able to ride today, but I am hopeful of getting out again tomorrow and enjoying the gardenias again. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tax Day 2025

Blowing Rocks Marina
Tequesta, FL
April 15, 2025

Did you survive Tax Day?

 We are experiencing some absolutely fantastic weather. I remember other South Florida Aprils where the temperatures were already in the 90s and the humidity was oppressive. These days, however, the humidity is enjoyable and the temperatures are only now beginning to reach into the 80s.

I rode almost 22 miles yesterday and did not even really break a sweat because of the pleasant humidity. I did a longer ride through some areas that I only infrequently visit. It is nice to note the changes and the route I rode has a very nice wild area which is not unlike the trail I rode last summer on the Great Allegheny Passage. 

For the evening, Chris and I headed off to Tiki52 and $2 Tuesday. I think I am writing too much about Tiki52 because it seems to be getting busier even as the snow birds are departing. After enjoying some adult beverages and wings, Chris and I walked out onto the dock at the marina and stared longingly at the ICW. It has been too long since I was out enjoying it from a boat. 

Well, the big event was Tax Day--and while I had already filed my taxes the small fortune I owed the government was withdrawn from my accounts yesterday. Ouch! I did a little too good in my investments, of course that was before the tariff nonsense which has negated all of the gains on which I just paid taxes. I am pretty sure 2025 will not be a repeat of 2024--we have a long way to go to get back to where the previous president left us. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Weekend Arrival

 Well, Saturday definitely arrived. At least the weather is good.

It was rough yesterday. I had to cancel a hotel room after the designated cancellation time. That meant that I paid for a hotel room in which we did not stay. That sucks! And it was an expensive room as well. 

Well, that is how things have changed. I did save money on gas by not driving to Tampa; so I guess it almost works out. 

Wait--I also paid for seats and parking at a MLB game that I did not attend. I hope the empty seats enjoyed the sound of the bat hitting the ball and the cheering of the crowd.

These things sometimes happen on short notice. It just sucks that the fiscal downside is so steep.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

At the Precipice of the Weekend

Moon Setting
Tequesta, FL
April 10, 2025

Another Friday has arrived, just as expected. Whew!

My weekend plans changed dramatically this morning--but I always say that plans are made to be changed. 

I guess I needed a quiet weekend anyway. Next weekend, hopefully, we will be in the Houston area visiting my Dad and enjoying Easter. 

I caught an interesting image of the moon setting behind a home last night. It was really interesting because depending upon where I stood, I could either see the moon or it would have already be behind the house. I tried to get it right at the roofline with the palm in front. 

So, with the radical change of plans, we will see what the weekend brings. 

I guess I'm at the precipice hoping not to fall. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Saying Good-bye

Cayuga Lake from Glenwood Pines
Ithaca, NY
April 3, 2025

 Chris and I are in Ithaca, NY, for what likely will be our last visit. The last member of our families is preparing to depart Ithaca and move south away from the snow. I still have family in the region, but not Ithaca.

We enjoyed a nice early Spring day yesterday with temperatures into the 70s--which was a relief from the cold we experienced in Maryland. 

There are many memories here and the final departure will be difficult, I am sure. 

Last evening we enjoyed dinner on the east shore of Cayuga Lake at Glenwood Pines.  The clouds above the lake were threatening and made for definitely early-Spring scene considering the trees are only beginning to bud for new leaves. 

Today we head back to Maryland for the weekend. 

-- Bob Doan, Ithaca, NY

Enjoying the Evenings

Blowing Rocks Marina
Tequesta, FL
March 26, 2025

 I can't, it seems, write enough about the spectacular weather we have been experiencing. 

Yes, there were thunderstorms the other night, but we really needed the rain--and we got a lot. But, overall the humidity has been low and the temperatures very moderate. I remember the past two years when we were already experiencing 90 degree days at this time of the year. It was not a lot of fun. With the summer coming, I need to enjoy these afternoons and evenings. 

This morning is one of the warmer mornings we have experienced with the day starting around 70 degrees. There is definitely a bike ride in my immediate future. 

But what--MLB is BACK!!!

How about them Os? 

Only 161 more games to go, but at least they got off to a great start with a 12-2 win and crushing 6 homers!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

What is a tooth?

 My new tooth was installed yesterday. 

No, it did not all happen yesterday, the new tooth (crown) was the culmination of a process that began in South Africa when I broke a tooth eating a tough steak.

The dentist said that the tooth's silver filling absorbed moisture over the decades and caused the tooth to fracture. Fortunately, it did not hurt and I was able to finish the South African wine tour/safari and return to the U.S. before having the tooth examined and repaired. 

My worst fears were realized.

They could not just cement the piece that broke off into place, a piece which I had dutifully transported from South Africa back to Florida. I wound up with a moderately expensive crown, but thankfully not a root canal. 

And again, I was very elated that there was almost no pain. 

So, my mouth is almost back to full operating efficiency. 

And as a result I will begin to have routine cleanings again, which stopped because of COVID and which neither Chris not I ever got back onto the schedule due to moving and retirement. 

So the silver lining, hahaha, is that both Chris and I are going to resume regular dental cleanings, something we did before COVID, and I have a new tooth. 

Do you think about your teeth? Probably not unless you have a dental appointment or some pain.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Waiting for Handouts

Balanced Pelican
Tequesta, FL
March 19, 2025

Welcome Spring! It is Here! 

I enjoy watching pelicans wait for handouts while fishermen clean their catch at the docks. 

Last evening, while Chris and I were enjoying another idyllic evening at our favorite watering hole, Tiki52, we were treated to the antics of the pelicans waiting for the discards. At least nothing goes to waste.  

Patient Pelicans
Tequesta, FL
March 19, 2025

One pelican wanted to get very close to the action and balanced on one of the lines waiting for the discards. Most of the others took a more reserved approach and waited on a float or in the water. On occasion there would be a great disturbance in the water and I am fairly certain there were a couple large fish also swimming under the dock in anticipation of dinner.

It was a chaotic scene every time a piece of fish was tossed toward the pelicans, but they quickly reformed into a an orderly array waiting the next handout. There seemed to be a pecking order and they seemed to understand that if patient, each would receive a much cherished handout. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta. FL

The Eyes Have It

 

Eyeglass Shopping for Chris
Tequesta, FL
March 18, 2025

It has been annual eye appointment time for both Chris and I this past week. 

We needed the appointments to renew our contact prescriptions. Ugh. At least there is no studying for the tests, but it is a bit disconcerting to discover how bad my vision really is becoming. Although, this year the prescription only change a little bit because I wanted to improve my close-up vision at the expense of my distance vision. I just don't need to see a golf ball at 300 yards anymore. I can't it that far. 

My new glasses should arrive this week and my contacts have already been adjusted. Yay!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

You Won't Believe the Crazy Things We Did!

 

Costco on a Saturday Afternoon
North Palm Beach, FL
March 15, 2025

I am convinced that being retired and not fully appreciating which day of the week it is can be a problem. Take yesterday, for example. Chris and I did two things that retired people should not do on a Saturday. 

First, we went to Costco! Yup, I really wrote that. We risked life and limb to head to Costco. It was a free-for-all. At least there were carts. We did find a parking spot and the checkout line was not too long. But, wow, going to Costco on a Saturday afternoon is just like saying , "Here is my jaw, hit me!"

The second thing that we did was to go out to dinner. We had a reservation which meant that we had a table, but the restaurant was packed and the noise level was almost unbearable. It is much smarter to go out to dinner mid-week when the crowds are lighter. 

Well, note to self.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

To the Beach and Beyond

Surfers' Ocean
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
March 11, 2025

 In celebration of DST, right after I retrieved Chris from the airport we headed to the beach for Happy Hour. 

It was our first Happy Hour on the beach since early-February and it was very enjoyable. It was a surfer's paradise with over 40 surfers in the water catching the waves. I enjoy being on the beach when the surfers are active because they provide something to watch and enjoy. Many of them are very good. 

Palm Beach Ice Cream
Tequesta, FL
March 11, 2025

There are other sights to enjoy at the beach. For instance, we watched three teens play and jump into the water. I was convinced one of them was going to wind up with a massive head bleed before they were done because they were jumping off the rocks into shallow water--but they survived. I dubbed them the Three Stooges for their antics.

After the beach we enjoyed a pizza dinner, Chris was tired and so the steak I had planned got moved to tonight. But, we also frequented our new favorite ice cream shop--Palm Beach Ice Cream! Their made on the premises ice cream is the best! And they have a multitude of flavors. Even Finnegan likes their ice cream.

And so Chris is back from Maryland and enjoying life as a grandma to a now two-month old grandson. We will soon find our stride and move forward. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunday Morning

Morning at the Beach
Hobe Sound, FL
March 9, 2025

 It is Sunday again after another crazy week. 

I think I'll just chill and prepare for the week ahead. 

I went to the beach this morning and it was already busy--even with DST going into effect last night. I just had not been to a beach in over a month and needed a few minutes--but this beach was too busy. It was, however, near the grocery store. 

It looks as if it is going to be a fantastic day. There may even be a bike ride in my future. Of course I have a couple projects to work on around here as well. Finn and I should be busy. 

The high today is supposed to be 85 and so I am pretty sure there is a Happy Hour on the beach waiting for me later. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Cold Saturday

DST is Back Tonight!

The Palm Tree out my Door
Tequesta, FL
March 8, 2025

 It is going to be a nice day. It may become a beach day. But it will have to warm up a bit. The morning started about 54 degrees, but the day is headed for 82 degrees with likely blue skies. 

I have totally been oblivious to the fact that Daylight Saving Time (DST) returns tonight! I am going to lose an hour of sleep. I hope the government finally gets its act together and cancels the return to Standard Time in November. We can only hope. It is funny that the return to DST crept up on me so innocuously. Almost like it was trying to fool me.

In the meantime, I am going to enjoy the bright sunshine and later daylight. The days are longer as well, but that is not a function of DST, it is a function of the Earth moving around the Sun with an axis tilt. 

So I'm looking forward to a great Saturday and Sunday, even if the weekend is one hour shorter. The daylight will at least be one hour later. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Getting Repairs or Replacements

Fuzzy Zebras in Zoom
Pilanesberg National Park, ZA
February 25, 2025

 NO, I am not going to delve into politics and government today. I think rational and informed people who use multiple news sources and watch what's happening live are able to make their own choices. 

I am going to discuss AppleCare. 

I just had a very good experience with AppleCare. My iPhone 14 ProMax that I used as a camera during our recent South African trip developed a problem with the telephoto lens. I could not get a clear image of anything using over 5x telephoto. It was very frustrating because the phone goes to 15X. The camera would lose focus or not focus and had a jitter. I finally resorted to using Chris' iPhone 12 ProMax with a max zoom of 12X to get the images of what we were seeing. 

Upon returning home, I first went to the Apple Store and they recommended wiping the phone and reloading everything from scratch because, after running diagnostics, they could not find a physical problem with the 3X lens and thought it might be a software bug. Well, that took hours out of my life to restore my files and apps. 

And it didn't work.  

So I called Apple Support to report the problem. I was told that they had never heard of this problem. And so I was asked to demonstrate the problem--which was pretty cool. They logged onto my phone and I stepped outside and focused on a Palm Tree. Eureka! They saw the problem. Two days and $99 later, I had a new iPhone 14 ProMax. I couldn't upgrade to a newer model, unfortunately. 

But, the AppleCare plan paid for itself! And the camera works great. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Civilized

Shopping at Doris
North Palm Beach, FL
March 5, 2025

 Chris and I occasionally shop at a market that I consider to be very civilized. The store is Doris Italian Market & Bakery. 

Why, you might ask do I consider it civilized? Simple. The store has a huge wine selection, and not the normal grocery store stuff, but they allow customers to buy wine by the glass and enjoy it while shopping! Civilized!

The store also hosts a huge wine sale a couple times per year. In fact one is coming up this month and in addition to wine a late dinner can also be enjoyed. 

I look forward to heading off to Doris to shop. I know, "shop" is a four-letter word, but it is a lot better than other four-letter words that begin with "S" like snow or, well you get the idea. 

We went to Doris yesterday and while we did not actually purchase much, Chris and I had a very good time.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

A Challenger for Punxsutawney Phil

 Like most Americans, I was not happy last week when Punxsutawney Phil made his, accurate only about 35 percent of the time, weather prediction for six more weeks of winter. 

Ugh. Who wants that?

Here in South Florida that prediction should mean highs in the 50s-60s accompanied by a cold depressing rain. 

A friend sent me an alternate weather prognosticator to replace my reliance on Phil. 

I love it!

The Palm Tree!

On every February 2nd, I can now go to my Tequesta Palm and receive a personal weather prognostication. It has to be at least as accurate as Phil with the added benefit that I do not need to read the mystical woodchuck language to decipher the forecast. 

Of course I have to keep secret the location of the weather forecasting palm tree--I would not want people to gather en masse heavily attired to await the prediction while consuming excessive quantities of coffee and hot chocolate. The weather palm prefers that people enjoy a cold drink in their hand while attired in beachwear enjoying the bright, hot sun on a sandy beach.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Enjoying the Evening

Pelican Monitoring the Marina
Tequesta, FL
February 6, 2025

 Chris and I enjoyed another fantastic South Florida evening. The temperature seemed cool as we relaxed by the Intracoastal to enjoy some adult beverages and munchies, yet the thermometer showed 73 degrees. 

I actually felt cool, but we were sitting in the shade.

I can feel Florida summer beginning to express itself in the bright sunshine of the afternoon 80s, but the evenings and mornings are still pleasantly cool. I am looking forward to a bike ride today. Yesterday, we took Finnegan for a grooming and so I did not get a chance to ride.

I am amazed at how quickly the days are passing. We fly Monday evening to begin an adventure. The trip has been planned for months and our departure is now three short days hence. 

The planning and packing for the 2-plus week trip is nearly complete. We will be heading south of the Equator to enjoy some summer. I will attempt to continue daily blogging, but the excruciatingly long overnight flights both going and returning may interrupt that schedule a bit. 

Tonight we are heading off to Trucks N Tunes, a Tequesta Village sponsored event that happens during the winter months. 

So much to enjoy and so little time. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL